US1708137A - Fruit-grading machine - Google Patents

Description

PYH 9 @29 G. s. HELENOLT FRUIT GRADING MACHINE mx w w Nm.

v 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 16, 1921 alle I *A @6%Wzcg FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q n N :bei gf; L 37 062 90 AW@ 9. 3929# G. s. HELENBOLT FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet @M NN i pf 99 392% G. s. HELENBOLT Lmg? FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 PYIH 9 E929 G. s. HELENBOLT FRUIT GRADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 16,v 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 9, 392g.

il STTS GEORGE S. HELENBOLT, OF MIDDLEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO NIAGARA SPRAYER AND CHEMICAL CO., INC., 0F rQBIIIII'JDLEPORT, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

FRUIT-GRADING MACHINE.

Application led Au'gust 1G, 1921. Serial No. 492,644.

My invention relates to improvements in fruit grading machines.

The invention is particularly designed for grading or sizing apples and similar fruit.

In fruit grading Amachines now known, provision is made, in many of them, forvseparating the culls before grading or sizing the remainder of the fruit, but in each instance the largest size or choicest grade of fruit is delivered from the machine after having graded the smaller sizes, with the result that the largest size, or what is generally known as the choice fruit, is caused to be carried through the machine over a longer course than the smaller sizes or inferior grades, the largest size or ehoicest grade being thus subjected to rougher treatment than the smaller sizes or inferior grades, and many of the apples or other fruit of the choicest grade are therefore delivered from the machine in a bruised condition.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a grading machine in which the largest size or choicest grade, after removing or separating the culls, is disposed of first, with the result that thechoicest fruit is caused to travel over the smallest course and each succeeding lower grade over a successively larger course, thus assuring the least handling for the better grades of fruit, and especially for the largest size or choiccst grade.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fruit grader which will with equal facility grade all kinds of apples and other fruit, even through such apples or other fruit are considerably elongated, such as apples known as gillitiower and strawberry apples, which have their greatest dimension along a line passing through the stem and blov7 of the apple, whereas other kinds of apples have their greatest dimension crosswise or at a right angle to a line passing through the stem and blow.

A further object is, the production of a grading machine by means o f which a larger quantity of fruit can be graded and packed in a given period of time than with sizing machines now in use.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a grading machine in which an elevator is provided, at one end of which the culls are delivered from the machine, and at the other end of which the largest apples are directed over grading mechanism and delivered 'from the machine, smaller sizes being continued on their course through the machine'and delivered therefrom progressively according 4to size, the smallest size being delivered last.

A. still further object of my invention is the provision of a machine for grading apples and other fruit, in Which means is provided for sorting out the culls and in which provision5 is also made to enable attendants to see and remove all apples or other fruit which arevbruised o1' otherwise considered defective, before commencing the actual grading operation, means being provided to tumble the fruit so that all parts thereof can be easily examined Without handling.

A further object is to provide a machine of the type mentioned, to which grading units lmay be' added, and the number of sizes of apples or other fruit to be graded, increased.

still' further object is to provide new and improved grading means; and to otherwise improve on grading machines now in use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the embodiment of my invention showin- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged View of a portion of the opposite side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one portion of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the othei1 portion thereof.

`Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken in a` plane indicated by line 5 5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged'longitudinal section taken on line 6 6, Fig. 3;

the same.

Fig. 11vis an enlarged longitudinal section" takeninaplane indieatedby line 11-11,Fig.4.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a portion of the fruit-turning means.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section taken on line 13-13, Fig. 12..

Fig. 14 is a' detail view of a portion of the mechanisms anda portion of the drive for Referring to the drawings in detail, like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.-

The reference numeral 15 designates a hopper or receiving box into which apples or other fruit to be sized or graded are delivered,

said hopper or box being shown rectangular at its upper end and having the lower portlons of its side walls 16 inclined. The bottom 17 is inclined, a portion thereof is formed of spaced slats 18, which are parallel, each slat comprising a fixed portion 19 and a movable or hinged portion 20. The movable or hinged ortions are located at the lower end of the inclined bottom and are adapted to direct apples 'or other fruit from the hopper. At the delivery end of the hopper, a

transverse wall 21 is provided, which is separated from the inclined bottom, or more particularly from the hinged portions 2() of the slats 18, by a delivery space 22 through which the apples orother fruit passing out of the hopper are directed. Hinged to said end wall 21 is a gate 23, said vgate having a hanging position and being adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly to allow one layer only of apples or other fruit to pass out of the hopper at a' time.

Since my invention is particularly designed for v.sizing or grading a ples, I will hereinafter refer to apples as t e fruit to be graded or sized; but it is to be understood that such a term is not used in a limited sense, since many other kinds of fruit and possibly other commodities may be graded or sized without even resorting to modifications falling fully within the scope of my invention.

24 designates an inclined feeding elevator having its lower end supported in a manner to be Rresently described, and its upper end fastened to a frame 25. Between the lower end of said elevator and said hopper, grading mechanism 26 is provided, said grading meehanism comprising in addition to other parts vor are preferably formed of connected sprocket links of special construction, to be hereinafter described, said chains or carriers being adapted to pass around sprocket wheels 29, 30, fastened to spaced parallel shafts 31, 32,respec tively, journaled in suitable bearings in or on a framework 33 constructed to support said grading mechanism and the lower end of the elevator.

The sprocket wheels 29 are at a higher elevation than the sprocket wheels 30 so that the series of rollers comprise an upper inclined stretch 34 and a lower hanging stretch 35. The lower stretch is allowed to assume a hanging position in order to provide the necessary space between the two stretches of rollersfor a laterally inclined chute 36. Said chute is formed of sheet metal, canvas, or other material and is constructed to direct the apples delivered thereon to an auxiliary elevator 37.

The framework 333 comprises front and rear uprights 38,39,respeet1vely, arranged at opposite sides of the grading mechanism 26, and the uprights at opposite sides are connected at their upper ends by transverse con'- .nector members 40 so as to provide a rigid frame capable of properly supporting said grading mechanism and parts associated therewith.

Fastened to the uprights 38 and 39 are inclined side boards 41, each having a guide track 42 secured to its inner side, along which the upper stretch of rollers 27 travels, thus keeping said stretch in a straight line and compelling said rollers to rotate due to opposite ends thereof traveling in frictional contact with said guide tracks.

Each of the rollers of the grading mechanism 26 is provided at regular intervals along yits length with a series of annular eoncaved grooves 44, the grooves of the rollers being alined so as to form substantially circular .grading or sizing openings or passages 45 between adjacent rollers.

The pivoted portions 20 of the slats 18 forming the bottom of the hopper have their lower ends extending over the lower portion of the grading mechanism 26, and apples passing out of said hopper are consequently delivered onto said grading mechanism and, due to the fact that the upper stretch of rollers travels upwardly, the apples are therefore, caused to travel upwardly on said rollers, all apples smaller than a given size, and known 'as culls, passing through the circular grading or sizing openings or passages and dropping down onto the inclined chute '36, from which they are directed laterally onto the lower end of the auxiliary elevator 37. All apples of alarger size than said grading or sizing openings or passages pass upwardly and are delivered from the upper end of said grading mechanism 26 onto the lower end of feeding mechanism 46 forming part of the feeding elevator 24. The

term cull or culls, as used in connection with the gradinggnechanism, is intended to mean apples ory other fruits or commodities of a size so small that they are considered unusable for most purposes', or at least unsalable for general purposes.

The feeding mechanism 46 comprises an endless series of rollers 47 arranged transversely and parallel with the grading rollers 27 of the grading mechanism 26, which may be` referred to as cull grading mechanism. Each of these rollers 47 is cylindricalfrom end to end and rotatably supported by endless chains or carriers 48, which pass around vsprocket wheels 49, 50, respectively, the sprocket wheels 49 being fastened to a shaft 51 journaled in side boards 52 forming part of thel elevator and having their upper ends secured to the framework 25 and their lower ends fastened to the uprights 38 of the framework 33.

The sprocket wheels 50 are secured to a shaft53 also journaled in said side boards near their upper ends. Connecting said side boards are transverseA connector members 54 arranged at intervals along the length of said boards, and fastened to the inner side of each of said boards are roller-supporting tracks 55, 56, the supporting tracks 55 being adapted to support and cause the upper stretch of rollers of said feeding mechanism to rotate while the lower supporting tracks 56 support the lower stretch of rollers of said feeding mechanism.

Apples delivered onto the feeding mechanism 46 from the cull-grading mechanism 26 are carried upward by the rollers 47 and due to the ends of said rollers traveling in frictional contact with the roller supporting tracks 55er 56 and being rotated thereby, the apples carried by the upper stretch of rollers will be continually turned over or tumbled gently so that an attendant stationed at the side of the elevator 24 will be able to examine the same without handling and thus remove all defective apples.

Fastened to one of the side boards 52 of the elevator 24 are transverse vsupporting members 57, which are arranged at intervals along said side board, and to the outer ends of said transverse supporting members 57 a side board 58 is secured in which, and the side board 52,1ast-mentioned, a longitudinal series of rollers 59 is journaled, said rollers being spaced apart and having an vendless'belt of canvas or other suitable material 60 traveling above and beneath the same, said belt having transverse slats 61 secured to its outer side.

The uppermost roller` of the series 59 is secured to a shaft 62 journaled to rotate in the side board 58 and the adjacent side board 52 of the feeding elevator 24, while the lowermost roller of said series is secured to a shaft 63 also journaled in said last-mentioned side boards 52 and 58.

- chain 73, and sprocket wheel 7 2.

Fastened to the framework 25 is an electric motor 64, and joiirnal'ed in suitable brackets fastened to said framework is a shaft 65 having a pulley 66 secured thereto, around which pulley and the pulley of said motor, a belt 67 is passed. Secured to said Shaft 65 is 'a sprocket wheel 68, around which and a sprocket wheel 69 secured to the shaft 53, a4

sprocket chain 70 is passed. On the shaft 53 at the upper end of the feeding elevator is a second sprocket wheel 71, around which and a sprocket Wheel 72 secured "to the shaft 62 at the upper end of the auxiliary elevator, a sprocket chain 7 3 is passed. llt will be clear therefore that the shaft 53at the upper end of the feeding elevator 24 is rotated by the motor 64 through the medium of the belt 67, pulley 66, shaft 65, sprocketwheel 68, sprocket chain 70, andv sprocket wheel 69, and that the feeding elevator and the auxiliary elevator are both driven from said shaft '53; the feeding elvator 24 being driven directly-by said shaft and the vauxiliary elevator through the medium of the sprocket wheel 71, sprocket Secured to the shaft 51 at t-he lower end of the feeding elevator 24'is a sprocket wheel 7 4, around which and a sprocket wheel 75 secured on the shaft 31 at the upper end of t-he cull-grading mechanism is a sprocket chain 76, thus the cull-grading mechanism is operated from the lower end of the feeding elvator.

Secured to the frame-of the hopper 15 is a shaft 77,v on which is secured a transverse series of agitating cams or arms 78, which are adapted to successively engage and lift, and then move away from the lower ends of the hinged lower portions ofthe slats 18 forming the bottom of said hopper so as to permit said slats to descend, and in order to rotate said shaft, a sprocket Wheel 79 is secured thereto, around which and a second sprocket wheel 80 on the shaft 31 at the upper end of thecullgrading mechanism, a sprocket chain 8l is passed; thus the agitating mechanism whereby the lower. portions of the slats are caused to swing on their hinges, is driven from the-upper end of the cull-grading mechanism. Apples rolling down along, the bottom of the hopper are therefore agitated so that only a single layer of apples will be, fed onto the. lower end of the cull-grading mechanism 26, of 'which additional assurance is had by reason of the employment of the pivoted gate The frame25 by means of which the upper lend of the elevator 24 is supported, is congreater or lesser instance the rollers of the mechanism are airanged transversely of the machine, or paral- 90 secured to the framework 25. The upper stretch voi' rollers are maintained in a straight line lby guide tracks 89 fastened to side boards 90 secured to the farmework 25. The upper stretch of said rollers is positioned in a plane slightly beneath the upper end of the feeding elevator 24 and an inclined feed board 91 extends from the upper end of the endless series of feed rollers of Said elevator onto or in close proximity to the upper stretch of rollers, serving to deliver the apples from said feed rollers onto the series of rollers 83.

It may here be noted that each of the grading rollers is provided with 'a longitudinal series of annular concaved grooves '92, and that the grooves of said rollers are alined so that those of adjacent rollers form substantially circular grading `openings or passages 93 through which are passed all apples delivered onto the upper stretch ofrollers and moving rearwardly, which are of a size smaller than said openings. By thus grooving the rollers, a transverse series ofgrading openings is formed between adjacent rollers and each of such openings serves to grade fruit in two directions or along two dimensions thereof.

My improved y rading or sizing machine includes a plurallty of grading mechanisms, such las above described, and all such4 mechanisms are substantially of the same construction and arrangement, except that the grading openings between the rollers are vof different sizes; which difference in sizes may be created by solely eoncaving the rollers to a epth and along a greater length, or by both increasing the depth of the concavities of the rollersy and separating the rollers slightly further apart.

Like the cull-gradin mechanism, the gradng mechanism 82 has t e upper stretch of rollers spaced a distance from the lower lstretch to enable the use of a transversely-inclined chute 94, which receives and directs apples passing through the grading openings 93 and deposits them onto a third grading mechanism 95, said third grading mechanism being mounted on the frame 25 but being at a lower elevation than the grading mechanism 82 and to one side of the latter.

The grading rollers 96 of the grading mechanism 95 are similar to the rollers of the grading mechanism `82 and the rollers of the cullgrading vmechanism 26 with the exception that the size of the grading openings or passages 97 between adjacent rollers are smaller than f the grading openings or passages 93 of the grading mechanism 82 and larger than the grading openings or passages 45 of the cullgrading mechanism 26. Furthermore, the rollers of the grading mechanism 95 are arranged longitudinally orat right angles to the rollers-of the grading mechanism 82. lThe chute 9 4. of the grading mechanism 82 delivers the apples -onto the upper straight-lined stretch of rollers of the grading mechanism 95.

Reverting to the grading mechanism 82, l desire to state that all apples too large to pass through the grading openings 83 of said mechanism, are directedl rearwardly and delivered onto an inclined table 98 arranged lengthwise and having its receiving end secured tothe framework 25, said table having upstanding sides 99 and a cross bar 100 secured to said sides at its receiving end. Secured to said cross bar is a piece of canvas or other similar material 101, which hangs therefrom, and provides a eushionontowhich apples delivel-ed from the grading mechanism 82 are dropped. The apples delivered onto the table 98 are the largest orchoicest grade of those passing through the several grading mechanisms. The table 98 delivers the ap'- ples into a barrel 102, or other receptacle.

Underneath the lower stretch of rollers of the grading mechanism 95, alongitudinallyinclined chute 103, similar to the chutes 36 and 94, is positioned, and this chute receives all apples of a size small enough to pass down through the grading openings or passages 97, while all other apples delivered onto the grading mechanism 95 too large to pass through said grading openingsor vpassages 97 are passed on along to the end of said grad- .ing mechanism and are delivered onto an in- 98, and at the' lower or outer end of saidtable.

the apples deliveredthereonto are deposited into a barrel or other receptacle 107.

The culls conveyed upwardly by the auxiliary elevator 37 are delivered from the upper end thereof into a barrel 108 positioned beneath said upper end.

It will be apparent that the grading mechanisms may be increased or diminished in number, and while for grading apples the arrangement shown enables the culls to be separated irom the remaining apples and the rcmaining apples to be graded into three lots; some fruit, such as oranges, may require grading into a larger number of lots, and it is therefore apparent that the inclined chute 102 of the grading mechanism 95 may be araware? delivers apples larger than the grading open-v ings or passages 97 therein onto the table 104, but if additional grading mechanisms were to be employed, the table 106 would be -dispensed with and in place thereof, grading mechanism similar to those shown and described, substitutedv therefor. Such grading mechanism would be arranged at a lrightangle to-the grading mechanism 95 so that it would receive the apples directed over the outer end of the upper stretch of the rollers forming said grading vmechanism 95. TheV chute of the added grading mechanism would be directed laterally, similar to the chute of the grading mechanism 82; that is to state, it would be directed transversely either to the right or left. If still another grading mechanism were employed, it would be arranged to feed transversely, similar to the grading mechanism 95 and the chute thereof may be directed forwardly or rearwardly, as willvbe found most convenientl 'or utilize the l'oor space to best advantage. Itis of course to be understood that the successive grading mechanisms are arranged in successively lower planes.l Consequently, where a greater number of grading mechanisms are used than shown in the drawings hereof, the first grading mechanism at the ,upper end of the feeding elevator would be arranged at a'higher elevation than shown,lnecessitating a greater inclination to said elevator.

In order to operate the grading mechanism 82, a sprocket wheel 109 is secured to one end of -the shaft 87, and a sprocket wheel 110 alined therewith is secured to the shaft 53 at the upper end of the feeding elevator 24, a sprocket chain 111 being passed around said sprocket wheels 109 and 110.

At the opposite end of the shaft 87, a bevel gear wheel 112 is secured, which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 113 fastened to one end of a shaft 114 suitably journaled in bearings secured to the upper edge of the side boards of the grading mechanism 95, said shaft 114 being therefore arranged at ay right angle to shaft 87 and having at its other end a sprocket wheel 115, around which and a. sprocket wheel 116 secured to one of the shafts of the grading mechanism 95, a sprocket chain 117 is passed. The grading mechanism 82 is therefore operated from the shaft 53 at the upper en'd of the feeding elevator 24 through the medium of the sprocket wheel 110, the sprocket chain 111, and the sprocket wheel 109, and the grading mechanism 95 is operated from the shaft 87 of the grading mechalnism 82 through the medium of the bevel gear wheels 112, 113, shaft 114, sprocket wheel 115, sprocket chain 1-17 and sprocket wheel 116.

The shaft 53 at the upper end of the feeding elevator 24 may b referred to as a central or centralized driving element, from lwhich the operating parts at the lower or feeding end of the machine are operated, and also the successive grading mechanisms at the upper end of the machine.

By reason of the grading rollers of the several grading mechanisms having their ends traveling in frictional contact with guide tracks, said rollers are rotated and cause the apples carried thereby to be turned over and passed'through the grading openings between the rollers according to size transversely, or at right angles to a line passing through the stems and blows thereof.

While l have not designated by numerals the chains for support-ing the grading rollers vand other elements of the grading mechanism 95, although the grading'rollers thereof are particularlyfreferred to by numerals, it is to be understood that the parts of the grading mechanism 95 are exactly like those of the grading mechanism 82. v

Each of the chains by which the seriesof grading rollers of each grading mechanism are carried, is of a length to permit the lower portion thereof to sag between the sprocket wheels around which'it passes vso` as to furnish suicient space between the upper and lower stretches of rollers for the chute positioned between the said stretches.

Each of the chains or carriers for the grading rollers comprise connected links, as best shown in Fig. 14, certain links being provided with inwardly extending stub axles 118, which are entered in' bushings 119 axially fitted into the ends of saidgrading rollers. Said rollers are therefore properly supported and capable of rotation on said stub axles.

In Fig. 14 1 have shown in dotted lines at 120, the different sizes of grading openings or passages that may be employed and the manner in which said openings are formed.

Certain kinds ef apples, for instance gilliflower and strawberry apples have their greatest dimensions along a line passing through the Stems and blows of the same, but such apples must be graded according to their dimensions transversely or at right angles to planes passing through the stems and blows. Consequently, in order to prevent improper grading of such elongated apples, provision must be made to turn said apples if positioned sidewise so that they travel lengthwise in the direction of the part Cil supporting the same, and so that they arecompelled to pass downwardly through the grading openings or passages of the grading mechanisms, either stem end or blow end first. For this purpose, spaced transverse supporting members 121 are arranged over each of the grading mechanisms, each of said transverse supporting members having openings 122 at opposite ends through' which pins 12,3 extend thatv are fastened into the upper edges of the side boards of said grading mechanism, it being understood that all grading -mechanisms employed have side boards similar to the side boards 41 of the cull-grading mechanism. l

The spaced transverse supporting members 121 of what may be termed the apple turning means, are connected by a plurality of longitudinal, strips 124, which are positioned directly over the grading rollers between the annular grooves therein.. each of said strips 124 having a plurality of depending pins 125 covered with rubber, felt, or other tubes 126 s\a\that apples coming in contact therewith will`not become bruised. l

When apples of an'elongated type are being passed through the machine, one or the other end portion of each apple may come in contact with one of the pins, and in each case the apple will be momentarily stopped in its course by said pin while the gra-ding rollers continue to travel in a forward direction.

The forward traveling movement ofsaidv grading rollers will, due to the frictlonalcontact'of the apple therewith cause the apple to be turned into a position at right angles to that in which it was momentarily halted, the spaces between the pins 125 arranged in transverse planes being large enough to permit the apples to pass between them when positionedlengthwise, or with its stem and blow in the line of'travel, and apples larger than the grading openin s or passages be# tween adjacent rollers wil be carried rearwardly over the end of the grading mechanism, while those whose dimensions transversely are'small enough to'pass through the grading openings or passages will, if positioned lengthwise, tip downwardly into the spaces between the alined concaved grooves of adjacent rollers and pass through the grading openings or passages formed by such grooves.

By means of the construction shown and described, the apple turning mechanism comprising the transverse members 121, the lon gitudinal strips 124, and the cushioned pins 125, may be removed when grading the general run of apples, which have a greater' dimension transversely than lengthwise, as it is simply necessary to lift the device from the pins 123.

While I have shown an electric motor and chain-and-sprocket driving means for operating the parts of the machine, it is to be understood that any other source of power or driving means maybe substituted for those shown, and that the arrangement of driving the various parts may also be changed without departing from my invention. theless, I consider the form of drive shown,

Neverv in-which a centralized driving element isemployed and from which parts at opposite ends of the machine are driven, to be highly` desir-' the endless series of grading rollers form/ ing the essential part of each grading mechanism is driven from the delivery end of such mechanism, thus creating a pulling action at the rear end of the upper stretch of grading rollers and assuring a straight-lined upper stretch under all conditions of use, making it impossible for the said rollers to become buckled so as to change the size of the grading openings or passages between adjacent rollers.

By driving each endless series of rollers from the delivery end of vthe grading mechanism, assurance is had at all times thatl the rollers of the upper stretch will be maintained uniform distances apart, thereby avoiding any variationA in the grading openings or passages from front to rear ofthe upper stretch of rollers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A fruit-grading machine, comprising a hopper having an inclined bottom formed at least in part of spaced slats providedwith hinged lower portions, cams for operating said hinged lower portions, an elevator adapted to receive fruit from said inclined bottom, a frame by which the upper end of'said elevator is carried, grading means on said frame adapted to receive fruit from said elevator, means for operating said grading means from said elevator, and means for operating said cams from said lelevator.

2. A fruit-grading machine, comprising a frame, cull-grading mechanism carried by said frame, a second frame, grading mechanism carried by said second frame at an elevation higher than that of said cull-grading mechanism, an elevator receiving fruit from said cull-grading mechanism and having its lower end secured to said first-mentioned frame and its upper end secured to said second-mentioned frame, said elevator being adapted to deliver .fruit onto the grading mechanism carried by said second-mentioned frame.

3. A fruit-grading machine, comprising two spaced grading mechanisms arranged at different elevations, the lower of said grading mechanisms being adapted to grade culls, a conveyer connecting said grading mechanisms, and adapted to receive the fruit freed of culls and deliver the same to the elevated grading mechanism, and an auxiliary elevator adapted to receive the culls and carry the same to a high point to be delivered into barrels or other receptacles.

4. A fruit-grading machine, comprising cull grading mechanism, an inclined elevator receiving fruit from-said cull grading mechanism and comprising an endless series of immovably spaced traveling rollers, and grading mechanism at the up er end of said elevator receivinor fruit therefrom, said lastmentione'd Igi'ading mechanism being arranged to pass the largest size of fruit thereoverand to permit the passage therethrough of all remaining fruit. v

5. A `fruit-grading machine, vcomprising cull grading mechanism, means for delivering the culls laterally from said grading mechanism, an elevator having spaced side 'boards and feeding mechanism between said .side boards receiving all fruit freed of culls Afrom said cull grading mechanism, an auxiliary elevator secured to one of the side boards of said first-mentioned elevator and receivino the culls delivered laterally from said cull grading mechanism, said auxiliary elevatorbeing adapted to deliver the fruitfrom lower while disposin its upper end into a barrel or other receptacle, and grading mechanism at the upper end of said tiret-mentioned elevator. v

6. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of grading mechanisms arranged at a right angle one with respect to another and n Successively lower planes, each grading mechanism comprising parallel grooved rollers, the grooves of adjoining rollers forming grading opcningsor passages through which all fruit smaller than a given size arepassed, all fruit larger thansaid given sizedelivered onto each grading mechanism hein@ delivered from said grading mechanism without passing through said sages thereof.

il. A fruit-gradino` machine, comprising cull grading mechanism, upwardly and forwardly directed feeding means extending from said cull grading mechanism, a frame to which the upper end of said feeding means is secured, and a pair of grading mechanisms arranged in diderent horizontal planes, the

^ higher of which receives fruit from said feeding mechanism and delivers fruit onto the of the largest size of irait, said lower gra ing mechanism dividgrading openings or pas-- ing fruit delivered thereon into two lots of different sizes.

8. A fruit-gradinor machine, comprising cull grading mechanism, an elevator, a pair of grading mechanisms at the upper end of said'elevator, means for drivinv'said elevator from the upper end thereo, means for driving said. cull grading mechanism from the lower end of said elevator, meansfor driving one of said pair of grading mechanisms from the'upp'er end of said elevator, and means for driving the other of said pair ofd grading mechanisms from said last-mentioned grading mechanism. c

9. Grading-mechanism, comprising two traveling endless carriers spaced apart and having inwardly extending stub axles lat regular intervals along said carriers, immovably spaced rollers rotatably mounted at opposite ends on said stub axles,v each roller having a longitudinal series of annulargrooves therein forming grading openings or passages between adjacent rollers, and means for causing 'said carriers to travel.

10. A fruit-grading machine, comprising an elevatoiga longitudinal series of spaced rotatably-supported rollers, an endless belt surrounding said endless series of rollers and having slats on its outer surface, cull'grading mechanism at the lower end of said elevator,

'- grading mechanism spaced from said cull adapte to receive culls graded from the `:fruit by said cull grading mechanisima 'frame supporting the u per end of said first-mentioned elevator, gra infr mechanism on Vsaid frame.l a motor on said fame, means for driving said first-mentionel. elevator 'from said motor,- means for driving saidl auxiliary'elevatorfrom said first-mentioned elevator, mea-iis for driving said cull Grading mechanism from the lower end of said elevator, and means for driving said second-mentioned grading mechanism from the upper end ofsaid elevator.

12. In a fruit-grading machine, fruit grading mechanism comprising a frame, side Vboards secured to said frame, traveling grading mechanism positioned between said side boards and comprising a series of spaced rollers having grading openings or passages therebetween, turning mechanism carried by said side boards and having depending elements arranged in a plurality of longitudinal series positioned between the grading openings or passages oi said rollers.

13; A fruit-grading machine, comprising y a series of traveling grading rollers spaced a aart, each roller h aving a longitudinal series ol circumferential grooves forming grading openings between adjacent rollers, spaced .transverse memberssupported above said grading'rollers, longitudinal members secured to said 4transverse members and disposed in planes above said rollers and between the ading openings therebetween, pins depending from said longitudinally-disposed members, and cushioning means Y around said pins.

'14. A fruit-grading machine, comprising an endless' series of grading rollers, means side of saidl transverse members and positioned in planes between the grooves of said rolle-rs, and depending pins arranged at intervals along each of said longitudinally-disposed members.

15. In a fruit-grading machine, the'combination of a hopper having an inclined bottom provided with a hinged portion, grading mechanism spaced from said hopper, means between said hopper and said grading mechanism for freeing'the fruit of culls and delivt ering the fruit to said grading mechanism,

and means for actuating the hinged portion of said bottom.

16. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of an inclined support for the fruit having a movable portion at its lower end, an elevator' receiving the fruit from said support, grading mechanism adapted to receive the fruit from said elevator and having movable parts, operating means for moving said parts," and means actuated by said operating` means for shaking said support.

17. In a fruit-grading machine, the cornbination of a hopper having an inclined bottom provided with a hinged portion, grading mechanism situated in a higher plane than the lower end of said inclined bottom, an elevator receiving fruit from said hopper and adapted to deliver the same to said grading mechanism, and means operated from said elevator for actuating the hinged portion of said bottom.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE S. HELEN BOLT.

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